Potential Bonsai Material - Oak

[duke313]

New to bonsai. I discovered this oak sapling in my back garden. I lifted up a large rock and it was growing underneath. It has quite a severe bend in it’s trunk from the rock. It’s not that old by the looks of it.

I was wondering if I should leave it be to allow for another years growth, or pot it now before it gets bigger?

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I'd let it be and look for a slightly larger tree. Maybe throw some fertilizer on this one for a couple of years

 

[Shibui]

Oaks can grow quite fast if they have room to grow and plenty of soil but are frustratingly slow when grown in pots. If you are just after a sapling in a pot then a small oak will be Ok but if you want something like a real oak but small and want it soon you should look for a more advanced starter.
Oaks seem to resent major root disturbance, especially as they get older but can still be transplanted with care. I've only ever transplanted oaks in early spring before they shoot or soon after germination. You are likely to find even little seedlings like this have a large, strong tap root heading down deep with very few laterals. By next spring it should have a few more lateral roots which should make it easier to chop the major down root.
Not sure it would survive transplant in summer but who knows?